Tape-type bed springs



K. K. CUNDlFF TAPE-TYPE BED SPRINGS Filed May 23, 1966 Kw 0d TD m u C K1 m M Y 7 B 3 M ps0)? RNEYS United States Patent 3,346,891 TAPE-TYPE BEDSPRINGS Kenneth K. Cundilf, 3545 E. 21st Place, Tulsa, Okla. 74114 FiledMay 23, 1966, Ser. No. 551,993 3 Claims. (Cl. -220) ABSTRACT 0F THEDISCLOSURE Tape-type bed springs comprise a sheet metal frame having adownwardly concave inwardly extending upper flange in which a pluralityof slots are formed by tongues of the sheet metal, the tongues extendingdownwardly outwardly and being downwardly concave. The frame has aninwardly extending lower horizontal flange to which the ends of thetapes are secured, the tapes passing through the slots and encounteringno sharp edges because of the rounded tongues and flanges.

The present invention relates to tape-type bed springs, that is, to bedsprings in which a plurality of tapes are stretched between oppositesides of a bed frame so as to provide yieldable support for the body ofthe user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide tapetype bed springswhich will impose desirably little wear on the tapes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of tape-typebed springs in which the frame has great rigidity.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision oftape-type bed springs in which the tension of the tapes can be readilyadjusted.

The invention also contemplates the provision of tapetype bed springs inwhich individual tapes can be quickly and easily removed and replacedwhen they become worn.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide tape-typebed springs which will be relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture, light in weight, easy to assemble and adjust, and ruggedand durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of bed springs according to the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the springs of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tapeaccommodatingportion of the frame.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, there are shown bedsprings according to the present invention, comprising a rectangularsheet metal frame 1 supported on legs 3. Frame 1 is characterized byrelatively long sides 5 and relatively short ends 7; although it will beunderstood that of course the sides and ends can all be of the samelength.

The sides and ends are characterized by upright webs 9 which terminatedownwardly in horizontally inwardly extending lower portions 11, whichin turn terminate inwardly in upright flanges 13. Upper portions 15 arespaced above lower portions 11, and are integral with the upper portionof upright web 9, and are arcuate and downwardly concave. Each upperportion 15 terminates inwardly in an edge portion 17 that is downwardlyinclined and in fact is downwardly concave. Web 9 and lower portion 11and flange 13 and upper portion 15 and edge portion 17 are all integraland of sheet metal.

Struck or otherwise partially severed from the sheet metal of upperportion 15 is a downwardly inclined tongue 19 which is also downwardlyconcave. The formation of tongue 19 leaves an opening 21. The upper sur-5 face of tongue 19 is accordingly convex and smoothly rounded, as isalso the upper surface of edge portion 15. The tongues 19 on oppositesides of the frame extend away from each other.

Frame 1 is crisscrossed by a plurality of flat tapes 23 of woven textilematerial or other flexible but relatively inextensible material. Tapes23 are horizontal and extend between opposite sides of the frame. Thoseextending between the ends of the frame are of course perpendicular tothose extending between the sides of the frame.

Tapes 23 are disposed generally at the top of the frame and provide asupportive upper surface to the frame for the purpose of supporting thebody of the user.

Each tape 23 has rings 25 secured to opposite ends thereof, as best seenin FIGS. 3 and 4. A tension spring 27 is hooked through each ring at itsupper end and at its lower end through the eye of a bolt 29. Each bolt29 extends vertically through lower portion 11 of frame 1 and is screwthreaded adjacent its lower end for the reception of a knurled adjustingnut 31 which is disposed 25 on and acts against the underside of lowerportion 11 of frame 1.

Braces 33 in the form of upright webs extend between and are secured toopposite sides of frame 1 for the purpose of rigidifying the frame andto resist the forces imposed on the frame by tapes 23. Braces 33 arepositioned on the upper edges of flanges 13.

In use, the tapes are threaded through openings 21 and assembled andtensioned by means of springs 27 and bolts 29 and nuts 31. The tensionon the tapes is individually adjustable by manipulation of nut 31, sothat tapes that support the heavier portions of the body can be drawntighter and those that support the lighter portions of the body canremain looser, thereby to improve the posture of the person using thebed springs. Alternatively, all the tapes can be drawn quite tight, soas to provide maximum support.

It will also be observed that replacement of an individual tape when itbecomes worn is quite easy, as it is necessary only to release theassociated bolt by unscrewing its nut 31, after which the ring 25 can beunhooked from spring 27 and the tape unthreaded from its position andreplaced with a new tape.

It is quite important to note also that the configuration of tongue 19and edge portion 17 minimizes wear on the tapes at the same time that itprovides a very simple and easily manufactured construction. The edgeportion 17 and tongue 19 are both downwardly concave, so that as thetape changes direction about tongue 19, there is a minimum of stressconcentration and hence a minimum of wear on the tape.

In view of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will be evident thatall of the initially recited objects of the present invention have beenachieved.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated inconnection with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood thatmodifications and variations may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this art will readilyunderstand. Such modifications and variations are considered to bewithin the purview and scope of the present invention as defined by theappended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Tape-type bed springs comprising a sheet metal frame having uprightsheet metal sides that terminate upwardly in sheet metal upper portionsthat extend inwardly and then downwardly, and a plurality of flexibletapes extending between and secured to opposite sides 3 of the frame,said upper portions of the frame having openings therethrough for thereception of end portions of the tapes, each opening being provided bytongues of the sheet metal of the frame partially severed from the frameand bent to provide convexly curved surfaces about which the tapeschange direction, the tongues on one side of the frame extending awayfrom the tongues on the other side of the frame, the tongues being bentdownwardly from their unsevered position so that they extend below thecontour of the said upper portions of the sheet metal frame.

2. Bed springs as claimed in claim 1, said downwardly extending portionsof said upper portions of the sheet metal frame being downwardlyconcave.

3. Bed springs as claimed in claim 1, said upright sides of said sheetmetal frame terminating downwardly in inwardly extending flanges, andmeans securing the end portions of the tapes to said inwardly extendingflanges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,208 2/ 1900 Schmidt 5-220683,636 10/1901 Brown 5220 FOREIGN PATENTS 102,905 5/ 1. 899 Germany.185,713 5/1907 Germany. 334,258 3/ 1921 Germany.

58,879 11/ 1912 Switzerland.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

1. THE TAPE-TYPE BED SPRINGS COMPRISING A SHEET METAL FRAME HAVING AUPRIGHT SHEET METAL SIDES THAT TERMINATE UPWARDLY IN SHEET METAL UPPERPORTIONS THAT EXTEND INWARDLY AND THEN DOWNWARDLY, AN A PLURALITY OFFLEXIBLE TAPES EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SECURED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEFRAME, SAID UPPER PORTIONS OF THE FRAME HAVING OPENINGS THERETHROUGH FORTHE RECEPTION OF END PORTIONS OF THE TAPES, EACH OPENING BEING PROVIDEDBY TONGUES OF THE SHEET METAL OF THE FRAME PARTIALLY SEVERED FROM THEFRAME AND BENT TO PROVIDE CONVEXLY CURVED SURFACES ABOUT WHICH THE TAPESCHANGE DIRECTION, THE TONGUES ON ONE SIDE OF THE FRAME EXTENDING AWAYFROM THE TONGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FRAME, THE TONGUES BEING BENTDOWNWARDLY FROM THEIR UNSERVED POSITION SO THAT THEY EXTEND BELOW THTCONTOUR OF THE SAID UPPER PORTIONS OF THE SHEET METAL FRAME.